The Sonoma State University Women’s Cross-Country team traveled to Santa Clara to participate in the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational at Baylands Regional Park this Saturday.

The tournament hosted 17 NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA teams. There were some big-name schools at the tournament. Of the Division 1 schools, there was Stanford (ranked 6th in the nation), Oklahoma State (18th in the nation), Cal Poly (10th in the West), Utah State (10th in the Mountain), California (11th in the West), Nevada (13th in the Mountain), Grand Canyon, Idaho State, New Mexico State, Sacramento State, San Diego, San Jose State, Santa Clara, Saint Mary’s, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV and Utah Valley. Of the Division II schools, there was Chico State (1st in the West), California Baptist (15th in the nation), Academy of Art, Cal State Monterey Bay, Fresno Pacific, and of course the Seawolves. Of the NAIA teams, there was 1st ranked British Columbia, and 13th ranked The Masters.

Sonoma State placed 12th out of the 17 teams. Maria Hurtado led the pack placing 34th out of the total 190 runners. Hurtado ran the length of the 6-kilometer (3.7 miles) in 23:36. All nine of the Sonoma State runners placed in the top 150.

Tori Dwyer placed second for the Seawolves and 73rd overall with a time of 24:28. Jessica Stip placed third for the Seawolves and 96th overall with a time of 25:14. Next for Sonoma was Breanne Brett who ran it in 25:30 and placed 104th overall. Michelle Padget placed 132nd overall with a time of 27:04. Just two seconds later Kelsey Lopez was the 134th person to cross. Then, just 12 seconds later, Brittany Smith was the 137th runner to cross. Sierra Downum crossed 22 seconds later at 27:40 in 141st place, and Christina Robinson finished the course in 28:17, placing 150th overall.

The Chico State Wildcats, who are ranked 5th in the nation, won the tournament. Sonoma State, with 271 points, was just two points behind the 11th place UC Merced.

The Seawolves are having a decent season this year overall. They placed 10th out of 17 total teams at the San Francisco State Invitational on Oct. 10. They took home the bronze medal out of eight teams at the Sonoma State Invitational at Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa on Oct. 4, and they took 5th place out of six teams at the Humboldt State Invitational on Sept. 13th. The Seawolves’ average mile time this season is 7:08, and their 6-kilometer average time is 26:36. Maria Hurtado has led the Seawolves all season, as her average mile time is 6:35, and her average 6-kilometer time is 24:34. Savannah Silacci is not far behind her though with a 6:47 average mile time, and a 25:18 average 6-kilometer time. The Seawolves have a few weeks off, until Nov. 8 when they will go to San Bernardino to participate in the CCAA Championship.